This timely seminar will focus on ways in which Government can utilise academic research and respond to developments in science and technology for effective, long-term policy development.

It follows the Commons Science and Technology Committee's inquiry into Government Horizon Scanning, looking at possible improvements in Government's responses on regulation, funding and skills policy in the face of emerging scientific and technological breakthroughs such as graphene, 3D printing and wider advances in renewable energy, transportation systems and telecommunications.

Sessions will also look at how relationships between researchers and policymakers can be developed in order to encourage more effective decision-making, including the Royal Society Pairing Scheme supported by Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), what steps Government can take to help research scientists understand and better influence decision-making and the effect that 'impact' criteria in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has had on encouraging academics to raise awareness of policy implications arising from their research.

Those expected to attend include policymakers from Parliament and across Government - alongside Vice-Chancellors, Directors of Research and senior academics from within Higher Education Institutions, R&D-intensive businesses, research councils and other funding bodies, advisors and policymakers within local authorities and Government agencies and others with an interest in this important subject area.